Abstract

The biology of pomegranate fruitborer, Deudorix isocrates was studied at the Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu. The females laid the eggs on flowers, fruits, stem, stalk and on leaves either singly or in groups of 2 10 7. The total developmental period from egg to adult emergence ranged from 33 to 41 days with 5 larval instars. The egg. larva, prepupa and pupal periods ranged from 4 to 7, 19 to 25, 2 to 3 and 7 to 10 days respectively. The adult longevity. prcoviposition and oviposition period varied from 7 to 11, 3 to 5 and 3 to 6 days with an average fecundity of 31.4 eggs/female. The life table studies indicated that the net reproductive rate (Ro) was 14,68 and the mean generation time (Te) was 44.72 days.

Keywords: Pomegranate, biology, fruitborer, life table